For unconventional reservoirs, natural fractures play a critical role, yet information regarding their occurrence and characteristics is sparse at best. Their presence has significant impact on hydraulic fracturing and their associated stimulation plans to bring economic success. While the mechanics and geologic conditions to generate natural fractures are generally understood, the lack of hard data makes them difficult to describe in the subsurface. Nevertheless, this does not eliminate the need for geoscientists and engineers to consider their presence in unconventional reservoir models in order to better understand their impact on hydraulic fracturing and production. To enhance production from low permeability and naturally fractured reservoirs, E&P companies require technology-based solutions that honor the sparse input from hard data measurements, softer remotely sensed data, and geologically based knowledge of natural fracture development and behavior.

Dr. Jeffrey Yarus, Halliburton Technology Fellow, states, “There are number of things that are often missing from natural fracture models including honoring existing data at the borehole where fractures are known to occur, or incorporating softer data like seismic attributes that suggest the presence of fractures and their clustered distribution patterns.” He adds, “While honoring the statistics of fracture measurements is commonly done, what has been missing is the contribution of knowledge. Fractures are not planes; they can be irregular and curvilinear. Geologists have observed fractures in the field for years and understand the patterns they from. Given the sparse nature of measured subsurface data, geologists must have the creative input into natural fracture modeling that will enrich the math and physics of measured data.”

To address these industry’s needs, Landmark, a business line of Halliburton, offers a software solution that provides an intuitive, faster, geologically driven modeling of natural fracture networks to help in optimizing well planning and stimulation strategies. DecisionSpace® Natural Fracture Network application gives companies the ability to model multiple fracture systems in conventional and unconventional reservoirs. This is achieved through honoring existing data and geological knowledge around the density, geometry, and orientation of the natural fractures to assist in determining the best strategies to induce hydraulic fractures and effectively stimulate the natural fractures for improving production. Furthermore, companies can save significant time because the software’s visual validator allows quality control and visualization of natural fracture network responses to varying parameters prior to generation of the model. With Landmark’s DecisionSpace® Natural Fracture Network software, your company can unlock its asset’s production potential through effective characterization of your natural fracture network.

To learn more about this leading technology to help optimize well planning and stimulation strategies, visit www.landmark.solutions.